Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flood Trail is a pass play out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel that floods one side of the field with three route levels while also attacking the backside with a deep crosser. The two receivers on the flooded side run a corner route and an out breaking route stacked underneath, the inline tight end runs a deep crossing route from the backside all the way across the field, and the halfback releases out of the backfield on a swinging flat route underneath everything. This is a classic Cover 3 beater that stresses the flat, intermediate, and deep thirds of one sideline, with the primary read progression starting on the corner route, working down to the out route, and checking the flat route to the halfback if the deep and intermediate levels are covered.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high safety rotate late to the flooded side, that is a Cover 3 shell and this play is designed to punish it. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the out route instead of squatting on the halfback, throw the flat route immediately for an easy checkdown. Key the deep crosser against man coverage, if a linebacker or safety tries to trail the tight end across the field, that defender is vulnerable to getting picked or losing contain in the throwing lane. This play struggles against Cover 4 with disciplined corners who sink under the corner route, since that route depends on the deep defender biting on the underneath routes first. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the passing lane of the deep crosser, since a lurking linebacker who reads the quarterback's eyes can jump that route and create a turnover if the throw is late.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when you expect Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells that leave the flooded side vulnerable to a three level stretch.
Check the flat defender pre-snap, if he sits at depth the out route and flat route will be sitting ducks underneath him, so hot route the out to break sooner against a soft corner.
Use motion out of Deuce Close to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defense follows your motion man across the formation you know you are in man and can lean on the deep crosser to work away from the flow.
Pair this play with Corner Stops and PA Boot Corner Post in your play calling sequence, since all three attack similar zones but with different timing, keeping the defense honest on flow reads.
Against aggressive user linebackers who jump underneath routes, trust the corner route on the flooded side since it clears vertically past any lurk threat sitting in the shallow zone.
